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Boro and Wigan share spoils

Date published: Monday 24th August 2015 1:43

Boro had the best of the few chances on offer but were again indebted to on-loan shot-stopper Shay Given for a precious point after the Irishman pulled off a superb one-handed save in the second half.
Wigan showed their teeth first, on seven minutes, as Ben Watson curled to the back post where Chris McCann’s effort was charged down.
They went close again on eight minutes as Nick Powell pulled it back to the edge of the box for McCann to stab in a shot that clipped George Friend and deflected wide.
Boro went close on 18 minutes as they won a free-kick 25 yards out but Emmanuel Ledesma’s well-struck waist-high effort brought a good save at the near post.
The hosts almost carved out the opener on 28 minutes as Grant Leadbitter pushed out to Friend on the left and he skipped past a challenge before sending Mustapha Carayol scything in to the edge of the box to send a low shot whistling wide.
Boro went close again on 33 minutes as a Ledesma corner was flicked on by Daniel Ayala for Carayol to try a diving header that was just turned wide off defender James Perch.
Just before the whistle Boro suffered a blow as Rhys Williams went down heavily after turning to chase and he had to be carried off on stretcher with what looked like a back injury.
After a scrappy start to the second half Boro missed a glorious chance to grab the opener.
Carayol broke down the left on 64 minutes to send Ledesma into the box and he cut it back to Curtis Main but his shot was scooped over from eight yards out.
Then, after a spell of heavy pressure, Carayol cut inside to crack in a low shot that cannoned back off the shins of Perch.
Wigan broke forward and threatened as James McClean darted forward but fired over from 20 yards.
But Wigan could have snatched the lead on 76 minutes as a quick break found Stephen Crainey 20 yards out and he smashed in a stinging shot that took a slight deflection.
It could not fool Given, who made a superb one-handed reflex save.
Then they pressed again as Powell stole in front of defender Ben Gibson onto a Jean Beausejour cross to power a header over the bar.